The mosaics were found accidentally during private construction work in 1993, preventing the site from being turned into a parking garage.
The 'Dance of the Genii' is a unique mosaic depiction not found in other similar Roman or Byzantine sites in the region.
The site lies directly beneath the floor of the 18th-century Church of Sant'Eufemia.
The floor art includes an unusual representation of the 'Good Shepherd' and intricate 'crater' motifs.
The residential complex was active during the transition period from the late Roman era to the Ostrogothic rule of Theodoric the Great.
The Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra is an archaeological site located three meters below the street level of the 18th-century Chiesa di Sant'Eufemia in Ravenna. The site features a series of private Byzantine-era houses containing extensive, well-preserved polychrome mosaics. Discovered in 1993 during the construction of an underground garage, the site spans roughly 700 square meters. The mosaics date from the 5th to the 6th centuries AD and represent high-status Roman-Byzantine residential floor art. Distinctive geometric patterns, floral motifs, and rare figurative representations, such as the 'Dance of the Genii,' characterize the collection. A metal walkway system allows visitors to view the mosaics from above while protecting the fragile stone surfaces. The site serves as a vital record of private urban life in Ravenna during the period when the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire and the subsequent Ostrogothic Kingdom.
The elevated walkway provides a direct overhead view of the 'Dance of the Genii' floor section.
Use the information panels provided at the walkway level to understand the specific symbolism of the geometric patterns.
The site is compact; combine your visit with other Ravenna mosaic sites to get a complete historical context.
Do not attempt to touch the mosaic floors; the stone surfaces are fragile and sensitive to skin oils.
